Tag Archives: Living in Christ

This death provided the capability for mankind to live real, complete whole life. Not only temporal existence, but a spiritual life never before experienced by man. Jesus lives.

In John 14:19-21 we find the Lord promising the disciples life is not over for them. In fact, His promise is that they will be fully and completely alive, they will live in a way that they cannot presently envision. In their lives, right then, that moment, that night, they saw life as honoring God and honoring their commitments before mankind through the heartbeat in their chest. Though the second part of that would not change, the first principle would change dramatically. From this night forward, the view of honoring God would transform from a physical building as a temple, to a personal bodily temple. Jesus is talking about an entirely new existence for mankind.
Jesus lived before man. Jesus is God. Jesus is love. Jesus is good. Jesus is righteousness. From this day forward, Jesus would instill the capability of these attributes in man by the indwelling Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My book, Knowing You Are Saved, discusses this on pages 228-230:

Those whom you see practicing righteousness must be of Christ. The word we see translated here [1 John 2:29] “doeth” does not give the actual use in this sentence justice. This phrase is constructed in such a way that the “doing” is the adjective. … indicates a continuing practice – a habit; something that marks the individual’s normal activity in life. We could say, everyone that is doing, or practicing. … John is saying, “If ye know (oida, in your heart, in your soul knowledge) that He (Jesus Christ) is righteous, ye know (ginōskō – in your mind, through experience, through learning) that every one that doeth (practices) righteousness is born of Him. (emphasis added) …This statement almost has a commonsensical flavor to it. You experience Christ’s righteousness in Christians because they are Christians. Those who have been born of Jesus Christ in faith practice or do this righteousness. In his commentary, Hiebert makes the point that the grammar here indicates a life-long effort. … Those who practice a lifetime of righteousness give others an understanding of Christ Jesus. … The overall characteristic of a life without God is still godlessness, even if there is a smattering or even a predominance of moral aptitudes, attitudes and activities.

Jesus gave His life so we could live our’s with Him, for Him, through Him, in Him. Not just Him, but the humility of Jesus also invites the Holy Spirit and ultimately does all things for the Father in Heaven by inviting Him as well. All three indwell the believer whose life then changes exponentially, dynamically, personally and experientially. Now, there is no longer just life, but a life fully alive in Christ! Our life with God indwelling us changes from a binary life, living in this body, serving in this body, to a multifaceted life to include serving from, to and through our body, our soul, our spirit, God’s spirit, God the Father and God the Son. Further, God provides all the strength, instruction, encouragement and power to accomplish His will in us. Go, live out the life Jesus died to provide you.

In chapter 15 of his gospel, John discusses the vine, Christ, and how we abide in Him. John, of all the New Testament writers, gives us the most intimate and descriptive explanations of how we should live through Christ, and permit Christ to live through us.

In my book, “Knowing you are saved” I explored the word we find in John 12:46 “abide” extensively as John discussed it in his first epistle. Here is an excerpt from page 216:

…When we look throughout 1 John, we find this word used 24 times. Outside of “love” and “knowing,” it is the third most frequently used word. This was a very important word to John. Ladies and gentlemen, living in Christ is probably one of the most vital things with which John is concerned. Some other biblical facts will help you understand. The word translated “remain” is used over 118 times in the New Testament, and 24 times here by John. John’s writings use menō 68 of the 118 times or well over half of all the times it is used in the whole of the New Testament. John’s first epistle uses menō fully 20% of all of the New Testament. [Concerning using meno in 1 John] He uses it mostly in chapter 3 and 4 and into 5, but the usage begins in chapter 2. Therefore, menō’s use in the scriptures is highly concentrated in [those] 95 verses, which comprise the last four chapters of this epistle. This word is associated with God 14 times, and “Him” (meaning God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit) another 24 times. This means that, in John’s epistle every use of the word remain has a reference to God attached to it in some way, whether directly or through a pronoun. All instances are either encouragements to remain, examples of remaining, or direct imperatival commands to remain in God. Remaining is a very vital part of a Christian life. Moreover, where a believer is concerned, remaining in Jesus Christ during persecutions and trials, as well as just a normal testimonial life with Him at the center, is a vital part of our assurance of salvation. That abiding life at the center of your spiritual life is what produces the fruits of the Spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians. We cannot know man’s heart, but His fruits do belie him. Remaining in Christ Jesus is vital with regard to any assurance you may have concerning your salvation. Sure, you might fall away, but what is the overall testimony in your life? Do you testify Christ in all facets of your life, or is there somewhere you do not let Him live?.

When we walked through 1 John, we carefully considered chapter 3 verse 14 which reads:

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

If we read this in context, providing a little more clarity (transliteration and more specific meaning) to a few words we get the following:

We know (oida-spiritual heart knowledge) that we have passed out of death (spiritual death – thanatos)) into a way of life because we love (agapē-selfless love) the brothers. Whomever is not loving (agapē-selflessly loving), he is abiding (menō-living, staying) in spiritual death (thanatos).

In John 12:46, John is exploring this abiding in Christ. Where he wrote his gospel sometime between 85 and 95 A.D., he has experienced abiding in Christ. John has exhibited sticktuitivness John has lived purely for Christ resting in Him. For us to be successful in life on earth, we too must abide in Christ. Christian, are you?

John 5:25-26 has been taught from a number of directions. Some have pointed to the life there as eternal. Some have pointed to life as a freedom from conscious sin, hearing Jesus call provides sinlessness to relieve guilt. The root truth may lie elsewhere.

Seek His strength, accomplish His will.

The word for life in this passage indicates a physical existence. It concerns living in and on this world with other people whether saint or sinner or both. It is living, breathing and eating life in our temporal bodies. So, does this mean we hear His call and are relieved from sins sting? Yes. But it does not mean we can sin with abandon? There is still consequence for our actions.

Life is not stagnant, or shouldn’t be. Life should produce. Life is never boring even for the most boring of us. This promise of life is a beginning viability for the work of the Savior. It is a promise that when we truly hear His name we will live productively for Him. Life is living for Jesus functionally, actively.

At the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5 believers are judged for their works, or lack thereof. Have you truly heard Christ’s call? How much do you LIVE for Him?

2017 Vacation Bible School

Hosted by Pastor Tim Silcott 7-11 August. Come join us all.

Knowing You Are Saved

Pastor Tim's new book describes great assurances of salvation in 1 John. Every Christian wonders at some point if they are saved. John writes in vibrant, personal and intimate terms exactly how we can know we are saved.